(Newser)
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Cleric Hasan Rowhani will be Iran's next president. The country's Interior minister announced today that Rowhani—considered the most moderate candidate in the race—has won this weekend's presidential election, gaining more than 18 million votes—just over 50% of the 36.7 million cast, which is all he needs to avoid a runoff and secure the victory, the BBC reports. In a distant second place, Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf had six million votes. Turnout for the election was 72% of Iran's 50 million eligible voters.

Rowhani has been a backer of women's rights and extending freedoms, the New York Times reports. "This outcome was not something planned by Ayatollah Khamenei," Iran's supreme leader, says one Iran expert; another points to "a hidden but huge reservoir of reformist energy in Iran that broke loose in a true political wave." But Khamenei, who yesterday slammed what he called US suspicion of the election, tweeted support for the process: "A vote for any of these candidates is a vote for the Islamic Republic and a vote of confidence in the system." Despite Rowhani's win, the supreme leader retains the real power, the Times notes. (Read more Hassan Rouhani stories.)

you need to go back and read it again. Rowhani is president but the Ayatollha Kommie has the final say, so Rowhani is a warm fuzzy feel...

No-Left-Turn

Jun 15, 2013 9:48 PM CDT

Don't let the door hit you in the ass, I'manutjob.

jgarbuz

Jun 15, 2013 9:21 PM CDT

This is EXCELLENT news! It may be the first hope that Iran might yet change its overall policies against the West and Israel. I can only hope. Nothing could please me more than to see Iran come back to sanity.